The Federal Government has approved a new set of education policies aimed at cutting schooling costs for families, improving teaching quality, and reducing waste across the basic and secondary education system.
The reforms, announced on Friday by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suiwaba Sai’d, place strong emphasis on the use of durable, standardised textbooks and tighter regulation of school activities that place financial pressure on parents.
Under the new framework, schools are expected to adopt high-quality textbooks designed to remain in use for four to six years. The government has also outlawed the practice of attaching disposable workbooks to textbooks, a move officials say has forced parents to buy new learning materials every academic session.
According to the ministers, the policy will allow textbooks to be reused across classes and even shared among siblings, significantly lowering education expenses while also reducing waste within the school system.
As part of the broader reforms, the Federal Government has also moved to limit graduation ceremonies in schools. Going forward, only pupils and students completing Primary Six, Junior Secondary School Three (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School Three (SSS3) will be allowed to hold graduation events. The measure is intended to curb excessive spending associated with frequent ceremonies, especially at pre-primary and lower basic levels.
The government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar to ensure consistency in school planning, teaching schedules, and learning activities nationwide.
Officials explained that the new policy strengthens how textbooks are assessed, approved, and reviewed. Frequent textbook revisions that make only cosmetic changes without improving content will no longer be permitted. Instead, any revision must demonstrate clear and meaningful improvements, helping approved textbooks remain relevant for longer periods and offer better value for money.
In addition, limits have been placed on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade, in line with international best practices observed in countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania. The move is expected to improve quality, reduce market overcrowding, and simplify textbook selection for schools and education authorities.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to oversee the evaluation and approval of instructional materials, working with other agencies to ensure that only curriculum-aligned textbooks are used in schools.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to education reform, the ministers said the measures are designed to protect educational standards, promote fairness, and ensure that learners across the country have access to quality learning materials without placing unnecessary financial strain on families.
